I don't know what that article amounts to, though, other than unfocused speculation on the author's part. The penultimate paragraph seems mostly drivel.
Fair enough, it's an opinion piece. Although I don't think it's too different from other variations on tennis journalism, such as The New Yorker's lengthy piece on Novak a few years back (The Third Man In, which IIRC you liked).
What exactly is this amorphous scandal? Is that something that the British tabloids dreamed up that this writer now gives credence to by parroting their description? Everybody, not just tennis players, want to be viewed "from a certain angle." Big deal. This sportswriter is no closer to understanding Djokovic than he was before he started. He is just filling up space to meet a deadline which, of course, doesn't stop him from speculating from his rather jaundiced point of view about Nole.
Who knows, I think it's Novak's private business and no one else's concern. With that said I think the piece (Column? English is not my primary language) was interesting in that it echoes several criticisms of Novak that many tennis fans seem to have, namely:
1. Good sportsman when losing, bad when winning (pretty rare combo). When winning he is always extremely humble, when winning you have the shirt ripping, the chest beating, the roars. Contrast this to Federer who often times comes across as salty in defeat, and very humble in winning (when did you see him storm the stands to high five and hug after a win?)
2. An urge to be liked by the crowd that seems counter productive, you know the roars when he is down and hits a good shot? Or the waving of the arms begging for applause? Sometimes I think he would be better off without showing that
desire and just to play and let the crowd decide on what they like.
3. The difference in behaviour, all smiles when on top of the world. Screaming at ball kids when down in a match.
I guess you could write it off as my own biases against Novak, but for whatever reason I never warmed to him. Anyway, just wanted to share it. Cheers.